Level of knowledge and acceptability of charter change among student leaders in higher education institutions in Iloilo City

Abstract

This descriptive correlational study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and acceptability of Charter Change among student leaders in Higher Education Institutions in Iloilo City. A total of 140 student leaders from various higher education institutions in Iloilo were conveniently selected, and data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire administered through Google Forms. The findings revealed that respondents are predominantly knowledgeable about the Philippine Constitution. Moreover, the results indicated that the majority of respondents generally accepted Charter Change. Evidently, the findings show that there is no significant correlation between the level of knowledge of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the level of acceptability of Charter Change. Furthermore, this study is partially supported by the Rational Choice Theory as it entails rationality beyond the perception of student leaders towards charter change whether they find it beneficial or not. This implies that knowledge alone may not directly influence the acceptability of charter change and that other factors such as political, socioeconomic, and cultural factors may shape the people's perception of charter change. These findings highlight the need for increased educational initiatives, such as symposiums and training, to increase the youth's knowledge and participation in policymaking. Additionally, it encourages the lawmakers to adopt a more inclusive, micro centered approach to address concerns regarding constitutional reforms. This analysis encourages more investigation and qualitative approaches such as interviews or focus group discussions, to uncover deeper insights into their perception towards charter change.